Inking apparatus for type-writing machines



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L. SIORANDALL. INKING APPARATUS FOR TYPE WRITING MACHINES. No. 342,244.

Patented May 18, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUCIEh S. CRANDALL, OF SYRACUSE, NEIV YORK.

-INKI NG APPARATUS FOR TYPE-WRITING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 342,244, dated May 18, 1886.

Application filed Junc1-2, 1885.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUOIEN S. CRANDALL, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, in the county of Onondaga and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Inking Apparatus for Type- IVriting Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of an inking device adapted to certain kinds of type-writersmore especially the Orandall type-writer and is designed to supersede or obviate the use of the inking-ribbon in common use in typewriters. Its elements are more particularly set forth hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, and in which throughout the several views similar letters refer to similar parts.

In said drawings, Figurel is a side view of my invention in connection with such parts of the Orandall type-writer as are necessary to show the application thereof. Fig. 2 is a top view showing the general position of the parts when the type-sleeve of the Graudall typewriter is in the act of delivering its impression against the platen. Fig. 3 is designed to show the position of the inking-rollers and the oscillating arms which support them when the said type-sleeve is oscillated backward into position of rest, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of the ink-fountain with a portion of its outer covering cut away, so as to expose the perforations in outer wall of ink-well. Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-section of Fig. 4., and is designed to further explain the construction of the fountain.

The type-sleeve a of the Orandall type-w riter is provided with a series of type upon its perimeter for a certain portion of its length, (represented by the square projections or faces I), an annular projection, c, and the long pinion d.) The whole is mounted upon a pin, 6, which is stepped into a yoke (not shown) at its lower end. This yoke is hung upon a horizontal shaft at right angles to c at a point about midway of a, whereby a and e are, by suitable mechanism, caused to oscillate into the two positions shown by the full drawing and dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. A longitudinal motion is communicated to a by means of a pitman and intermediatemechanism, (not shown,)

which connects with a at 0. Axial movement in opposite directions is also communicated to a by an oscillating arm,f, provided with a segment of gear, g, which meshes into d. These several movements of a are simultaneously performed.

When the parts are at rest, a stands in the position indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. Vhen any given key-lever of said typewriter is struck, e and a move forward into the position shown in Fig. 1, with a. delivering its impression against the paper h, which is held upon the platen i by the roller j and apron 7t.

NVhen the parts are in position of rest, as above, the inking-rollers'l Z are closed against each other in front of a, as in Fig. 3. These rollers are loosely hung upon studs m m, which admit not only an axial movement of Z, but a slight longitudinal movement also by being made longer than Z, as shown in Fig. 1. The studs m are fixed in the free ends of the laterally-oscillating arms n, which swing on the journals 0, to which they are affixed, each of which journals is provided with a returnspring, 1), Fig. 1. The retractile effort of p normally holds at in the position shown in Fig. 3; but when a is struck forward, as in Fig. 2, the free ends of n are oscillated outwardly, and a moves forward onto a line slightly in advance of Z. As a thus moves forward to deliver its impression, it twirls to left or right, as the case may be, and in certain cases also moves a slight distance longitudinally, for the purpose of presenting any predetermined type to the printing-point. Th us shifting, on itsjourney to the printingpoint, any type on the perimeter of a must come in contact with one or other of the inking-rollers Z, whereby it receives ink, as in the common method of inking the type for letter-press printing.

In case of a simultaneous axial and longitudinal movement of the type-sleeve, as above mentioned, the impact of the type-sleeve upon Z would cause Z to not only rotate axially, but also slide upon an longitudinally.

IVhenever, by the forward movement of a, Zis pressed outwardly, as in Fig. 2, it takes on fresh ink by coming in contactwith the distributing-roller q. I

On the under side of the supporting-plate a, and hung on the lower end of the shaft 8, is a space-key is struck.

2o tributed.

ratchct-wheel, t. A pawl, a, connected with I the space-key o of said type-Writer, substantially as shownin Fig. 1, communicates intermittent rotary movement to it whenever said The fountain w, being rigidly attached to the shaft 8, turns witht and gives ink to the intermediate wheels, 00, whence it goes onto the distributing-wheels q, and finally onto Z, as before shown.

The fountain w is provided with an inkwell, 7 in the outer walls of which are perforations 2, through which the ink makes its way into the felt covering or outer face OflU. The outer face of @0 90, q, and Z is preferably of felt,

although I do not confine myself to that sub stance, as it is evident that canton-fiannel,

silk, and other fabrics may be used. The ink passes from 7, through 2, into the outer covering of w, where by capillary action it is dis From it is taken up and redistributed on m and q, and finally reaches the type throughL It is evident that with proper type and a thorough distribution of the ink by an inking device such-as herein shown the work of a type-writer may be made to more cl osely approximate letter-press than by the use of a ribbon. In the fountain, as herein shown, I have also aimed to provide a means of supply- 6 ing ink to the type of a typewriter in a manner adapted to be used by comparatively unskilled persons. I

I do not confine myself to the use of this inking device in combination with the type-sleeve of the Orandall typewriter, as it also may evidently be used in combination with typewheiis of various sorts.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. A plurality ofinking-wheels, substantially such as Z, constructed and arranged substantially as described, so as to be capable ofbcing simultaneously twirled axially and shifted longitudinally upon their axes, in combination with the type-sleeve or type-wheel of a typewriter, substantially as set forth.

2. A plurality of inking-wheels,substantially such as Z, constructed and arranged substantially as described, so as to be capable of being simultaneously twirled axially, shifted longitudinally, and swung laterally, in combination with the type-sleeve or type-wheel ofa typewrit-er, substantially as set forth.

3. A plurality ofinking-wheels,substantially such'as Z, constructed and arranged substantially as described, so as to be capable of being simultaneously twirled axially, shifted longitudinally, and swung laterally, in combination with the type-sleeve or type-wheel of a typewriter impinging thereon and communicating motion directly thereto, and means, substantially such as p, for returning Z to normal position laterally, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUoinN' s. CRANDALL.

Witnesses:

CHARLES M. CROUSE, F. J. GARNETT. i 

